New York City remain unbeaten on the season

New York City FC 3-1 Colorado Rapids

BRONX, NY–It was a crisp night in the Bronx on Saturday but that did not stop New York City Football Club from defeating the visiting Colorado Rapids 3-1. New York City remain unbeaten on the season and remain atop the Eastern Conference table.

In a break with recent form, NYCFC was out possessed by their opponents for the first time this season and had to adapt their game to suit the night. the break through came in the twenty second minute when Nicolas Fernandez Mercau retrieved a rebound from his own shot off a great Nicholas Hansen save and slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs in to the net. Mercau doubled the score 23 minutes later with a cheeky free kick from the left side beating Hansen near post and leaving the keeper standing and stunned.

Colorado would not be denied, however, and got a goal back just before halftime as Darren Yapi found himself open on the left side and beat defender Kevin O’Toole to have a clear shot on target. He made a scorching volley to get the ball pas Matt Freese and bring the Rapids within striking distance.

Colorado carried that momentum into the second half of the match enjoying more possession and pressing for the equalizer. It was then Pascal Jansen made the change upfront. NYCFC had been playing with a false nine using Mercau as a point who would drop back and collect the ball, but sixty three minutes in Jansen took off Keaton Parks and replaced him with Talles Magno. Magno became the number nine and Mercau moved to a more central position in the midfield. Magno played more as a traditional target striker who could hold up play and distribute.

The change worked and the momentum shifted back to NYCFC. Four minutes before stoppage time, they were rewarded for their effort as Maxi Moralez found Magno in the box with a nice pass and Magno one touched it home past Hansen.

The goal was more than just a back breaker for the game. It meant a lot for Magno as a player who returned to the team after the Brazilian club he was loaned to last year decided not to pick up the player with their option to buy. Fans have been wondering how Magno would add or detract from the team this year taking up a DP slot. Saturday night proved he is an asset in the hands of the right coach.

Jansen had this to say about the player after the game. “It’s a great moment for [Forward] Talles [Magno]. He has to be patient because we’re making him more robust and capable of playing 90 minutes again. It’s been a while for him, so the training load and training program have been designed to help him make progress. Unfortunately, he had a minor setback during preseason with a calf injury, so he was out for two weeks. For him to score this important goal in a match like today is huge for him, and also for the team. Instruction‑wise, he came on because we needed somebody we could set up with more than we did in the first part of the second half. He has the quality to play with his back to goal and help us get away from pressure, because Colorado [Rapids] were pressing hard and high. Once you go through that pressure or go over it, you need somebody who can hold the ball so you can come and support and play from that moment onward. He did that with great intent, helped the team in those moments, and even more with the moment when we broke through their press and scored the third goal. I’m very pleased for him.”

For Magno it was all smiles after the match. “I feel good. I missed this moment here. Now I’m back, and this is a big moment for me. I’m very happy today, not only because of my goal but because the team had a big win. Now we need to focus on the next game, but in this moment, I want to enjoy it a little because it’s a great moment.”
With NYCFC remaining as one of only six teams to remain unbeaten in all of MLS and sitting above Nashville on top of the Eastern Conference, fans of the team are smiling as well. NYCFC will hope to really make a statement at home next week as Lionel Messi comes to town in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference finals. If NYCFC keep playing like their current form it could be a chance for some revenge for the boys in blue.

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